Childhood Abuse And Violence In Childhood

Larson in “Serial murderers: The Construction” states that socialization is said to begin after birth. The social learning theory is a theory that uses the childhood of serial offenders to identify the main reasons for causation. The social learning theory examines the offender’s past for clues in explaining aggressive behavior. The central idea of this theory is the relation of childhood victimization or observation of violent acts to future activities in criminal behavior. According to Hickey, stress caused by childhood traumatization may be a trigger to criminal behavior in adulthood. It

Social learning theory states that crime is learned through social interaction, and the family is the primary association group. I believe John Wayne Gacy learned his serial killing criminality from his childhood family social interactions. John Wayne Gacy’s father use to physical punish his children with a razor strap and physically abuse his wife. Gacy’s father also use to call him names like a wimp and a girl. I feel that these violent interactions caused Gacy to form a direct association with violent behaviour. These events indicate that Gacy was exposed to violence and ridicule for his entire childhood. Previous statistics stated that the age that abuse occurs and the longer the abuse occurs, influence the severity of the impact of the abuse on a child’s adulthood. I feel that the timing, length and frequency of the abuse that Gacy encountered led to his serial killing behaviour.

“The foundation for a serial killer is usually laid down in their early life experiences during childhood with harsh childhood punishment and discipline” (Dalal, Aggarwal, Bhullar, & Sharma, 2009, p. 111). According to studies made by Dalal et al (2009), individuals that grow up in homes where alcohol and drugs are abused, and the child is emotionally scarred or physically harmed are likely candidates to become a serial killer than others who come from stable, loving homes. Other experts have also agreed with this theory that a traumatic home life can produce a serial killer. One hypothesis individuals

To begin, one must understand a serial killers background to get an understanding of how childhood trauma could lead to their need to kill. Although there are no exact factors that would absolutely cause a child to grow up into a serial killer, research found by Laurence Miller in “Serial killers: II. Development, Dynamics, and Forensics,” suggest that there are several common factors found in multiple serial killers’ childhoods. For example, some of the leading childhood characteristics found among serial killers include being adopted, being the sons of a prostitute, and have underwent sever physical or sexual abuse (Miller, 2013, p.13). This demonstrates that such experiences, at a young age, can be very traumatic and create this need of comfort that most serial killers satisfy through the murdering of multiple innocent individuals. However, the most shocking yet prevalent form of abuse comes from the mothers. This can be noted as Miller states that an increasing amount of serial killers had, “…intensely ambivalent, smothering relationships with their mothers that were characterized by both maternal abuse and sexual attraction to the mother (Miller, 2013, p.13). Miller also noted that many of these individuals came from dysfunctional families that indeed had a history of either psychiatric disorders, substance abuse, or legal problems (Miller, 2013, p.13). With such information, one begins to understand where these individuals turned cold but even then, nothing justifies

According to statistics 50% of Serial Killers suffered emotional,physical and sexual abuse and neglect during childhood. Often times family members were usually at odds with each other and had malfunction and debilitating relationships. As young children they would be often forced to witness violent sexual acts between parents and family members. The forms of punishment that many had to face would cause them to suffer from humiliation, were normal if not always unfair, unpredictable, destructive, and wicked. When a child is merely neglected huge developmental failures can occur. More than 20 known Serial Killers were forced to dress up as a girl as a wicked punishment. They would also be sexually abused by family members and punished for masturabating as children. Such experiences in a young child will create violent fantasies that go into adulthood. From these forms of punishment a child would and will become desensitized and will begin to believe that this emotionally barren world that he or she lives in is normal. Thus due to these punishments a child will become devoid of empathy for others. (Gerber

The past violence that the subject and his brother suffered through is a large factor in their need for violent satisfaction. The lack of emotional support and adoration can connect with the subject’s sexual gratification that he achieves through killing. Relentless abuse ongoing throughout childhood backed by neglect in school (often connatural with social mistreatment) can “create a violent, deviant personality” (Pakhomou, 220). Children are greatly impact with what surrounds them. The negativity and violence that are exposed to them will form lasting flashbulb memories that can shape not only their actions in the future but how they understand and perceive life. Violence plays a big part in developing the characteristics of a serial killer, but there are also other components that can lead to a distraught and homicidal person. In a research composed by James Beasley, he presents several different factors of development into becoming a serial killer through the case studies of seven offenders. Offender number three had multiple challenges that led him to become as aggressive and hostile as he was. As a child, his mother was completely absent and was an alcoholic. His stepfather, who physically and verbally abused him, lacked the comfort and attention any child would need. After learning that he would repeat the third grade, his behavior became hostile and he showed a lack of self-esteem. At the age of seven, the subject already began to show

The concept of serial killing is difficult for most to grasp, but it can be easily inferred that the reality of a serial killer is different from the general population. As the notorious Ted Bundy, killer of several young females, once said, “‘I am the most cold-blooded son of a bitch you’ll ever meet. I just liked to kill, I wanted to kill’” (Labrode). This creates the question of how much a serial killer’s childhood really plays into who they are. While biologists argue that factors such as an extra chromosome, head trauma, and hormone imbalances lead to these violent actions, psychologists are researching how early life and recent media has impacted them. Others even believe that these people become aberrant from pressure to succeed, and their lack of control (Lee). In the source Looking-Glass

A serial killer is defined as someone who murders three or more people over a period that spans more than one month (Ramsland). In regards to the relationship between childhood abuse and serial killers many serial killers claim that they suffered from child abuse.  Evidence has illustrated that those who experienced childhood trauma will most likely partake in criminal activity later in life. Some of America’s most notorious serial killers allegedly experienced childhood abuse such as, Charles Manson, John Wayne Gacy, and Carroll Cole (Klein). Although not all child abuse victims grow up to become serial killers, they are at a heightened risk.  Those who study serial killers have observed that a large percentage suffered childhood abuse; this suggests that abuse may contribute to murderous behaviors (Guy).  The prevalence of childhood abuse associated with serial killers is far from a new topic and it has been suspected to be a contributing factor for several years. Therefore, research and observations suggest a history of abuse has the potential to contribute to a serial killer’s murderous behavior (Guy). Although, there are many who suffered from childhood abuse that do not exhibit criminal behavior, so what other possible factors can contribute to one becoming a serial

A dominant factor in determinating a child will become involved in homicidal activities is the environment the child grew up in. The worse the environment, the more abuse and violence, the greater chance the child becomes a involved in these illegal activities. The worst case is becoming a serial killer. The problem with serial killers is that most people find them fascinating more then monstrous, but according to Serial Killers” From Jack the Ripper to Aileen Wuornos by L. Andrew Cooper and Brandy Ball Blake, “... a few murderers show up frequently on people's list of real-life monster.” These serial killers are created by the withholding of emotions from the experience of childhood abuse the majority of the time. Even though many people are fascinated by the serial killer genre, they are still seen as monsters in society. The abuse the child went through can cause so much trauma to create a serial killer, and most cases that is where a serial killer is derived from. The use of abuse in the household has created this giant monster in society that is

Vignette; Chris and Christi have sought the help of a therapist because their children, Victoria 17, Chris Jr 16, and David 14, have been undergoing escalating anger issues and violence over the past year or so and it has reached the point that the entire family cannot take it anymore. Victoria is the oldest and has always been an exemplary student and a good sister to her younger brothers CJ and David. CJ and David are typical teenage brothers who normally get along with the occasional fight thrown in. David has been withdrawn as of late and he and CJ have stepped up their physical violence in addition to their arguments. Victoria has been pulled in-between the brothers trying to be the peacekeeper. When it came to light that David

The current study assessed adults who were exposed to family violence as a child and examined their acceptance of provoked aggression and retaliatory violence in adulthood. Researchers hypothesis that the more family violence a child is exposed to, the more accepting they will be of aggressive provocation and retaliatory violence. Data was collected through an anonymous survey online which included the Experiences with Violence and Attitudes about Aggression Scale (Jacquin, Harrison, & Runyan, 2002). Regression analysis with backward removal was used to test the association between beliefs about aggressive provocation and childhood exposure to family violence. As hypothesized, the results show that the more exposure to family violence the

Many killers are demented and exhibit signs of future violence at a very early age. Society often turns to the upbringing of the killer for answers. Many killers speak of their childhoods being full of sexual abuse, torture, and mayhem (Scott). In his book Serial Killers, Joel Norris speaks of violence as something that cycles from generation to generation: "Parents who abuse their children, physically as well as psychologically, instill in them an almost instinctive reliance upon violence as a first resort to any challenge. Childhood abuse not only spawns violent reactions, but also affects the child's health, including brain injuries, malnutrition, and other developmental disorders” (49 – 50). Violence early in life may lead to these undesirable tendencies to abuse and kill. Parents often believe that strict discipline will help the individual grow up to be strong, but it, in turn, creates a gap between the child and the parents. The child does not feel loved or wanted. This may

Elarousy, W., & Al-Jadaani, M. (2013). Emotional abuse among children: a study in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal, 19(10), 869-75. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1467531170?accountid=158790

Violence against women begins in childhood and is mainly there that bullying is performed. In childhood is vulnerable to abuse and these children suffer from their condition, this is a global problem which often do not transcend beyond the limits of the family, the child suffers violence in silence, ashamed and guilt.

Domestic violence in the United States has become a major problem that affects nearly 2/3 's of all people. It can affect wives, the elderly, and even men, but in this paper we will discuss the abuse that occurs to children and also violence toward women.